Sharon Glaeser, M.S.

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Sharon_S. Glaeser CV

Sharon Glaeser is a biologist for PDXWildlife and serves as a Director. She is also research associate in the Oregon Zoo Conservation and Research Department. Sharon holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Oregon State University and an M.S. in Biology from Portland State University.

Sharon in Thailand with a retired elephant

Sharon in Thailand with a retired elephant

Her graduate research focussed on acoustic communication of Asian elephants at the Oregon Zoo and in Thailand under Dr. Randy Zelick. She also developed a collaborative program with Dr. Deb Duffield between Portland State University and federal and state agencies and trained students to perform sea lion predation observations on the Columbia River and Willamette River in the Pacific Northwest.

Sea Lion observations at the Bonneville Dam

Sea Lion observations at the Bonneville Dam

In 2015, she is starting a PhD under Dr. Nadja Wielebnowski in applied animal conservation and welfare science through a partnership between Portland State University and the Oregon Zoo. Specifically, her PhD project will measure the health and wellbeing of the Oregon Zoo elephants during three phases of transition to a new elephant exhibit.

The broader scope will be on determining objective indicators of well-being in both captive and free-ranging elephants, and if possible assess how these indicators may apply to other mammalian species.

Sharon is very involved in the international elephant community of researchers, veterinarians, handlers, conservationists, and managers. She is excited about building intern opportunities to engage students in conservation research. Sharon believes that the care and conservation of species requires an understanding of the complexity of the issues and our role as individuals and a community.

 PUBLICATIONS

  1. Glaeser, S. S., K. E. Hunt, M. S. Martin, M. Finnegan and J. L. Brown (2012). Investigation of individual and group variability in estrous cycle characteristics in female Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) at the Oregon Zoo. Theriogenology 78(2): 285-296.
  2. Scallan, J., Glaeser, K. Backues and E. Freeman (2011). Serum Testosterone Concentrations in an ex situ male Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) in relation to a temporary breeding loan. Journal of the Elephant Managers Association (JEMA) 22(3): 20-33.
  3. Ren, Y., M. Johnson, P. Clemins, M. Darre, S. Glaeser, T. Osiejuk and E. Out-Nyarko (2009). A Framework for Bioacoustic Vocalization Analysis Using Hidden Markov Models. Algorithms 2(4): 1410-1428.
  4. Glaeser, Sharon Stuart. Analysis and classification of sounds produced by Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). Diss. Portland State University. Department of Biology, 2009.

PRESENTATIONS

Long term hormone monitoring of Asian elephants at the Oregon Zoo

  • Oregon Zoo, Portland, OR, Dec 9, 2014
  • Elephant Manager’s Association Annual Workshop, Toledo, OH, Oct, Oct 5-8, 2014
  • Portland State University: Animal Behavior BI412/512, Portland, OR, 2012, 2013
  • Elephant Manager’s Association Annual Workshop, Rochester, NY, Oct 6-9, 2011
  • Elephant Manager’s Association Annual Workshop, Houston, TX, Oct 15-19, 2009
  • University of Portland: Biology, Portland, OR, March 2009
  • International Elephant Foundation Symposium, Pattaya, Thailand, Nov 24-26, 2008
  • International Elephant Foundation Symposium, Orlando, FA, Nov 2-4, 2007
  • Elephant Manager’s Association Annual Workshop, Cincinnati, OH, Oct 14-16, 2007

Call classification and acoustic communication of Asian elephants

  • Elephant Manager’s Association Annual Workshop, Houston, TX, Oct 15-19, 2009
  • Portland Behavior Club, monthly meeting, Portland OR, October 2009
  • Acoustical Society of America, Acoustic 157th Meeting, Portland, OR, May 18-22, 2009
  • University of Portland: Biology, Portland, OR, March 2009
  • International Elephant Foundation Symposium, Pattaya, Thailand, Nov 24-26, 2008
  • Acoustical Society of America, Acoustic Communication by Animals, Corvallis, OR, Aug 12-15, 2008
  • Oregon Zoo, Conservation Brown Bag, Portland, OR, Nov 30, 2007
  • International Elephant Foundation Conservation & Research Symposium, Orlando, FA, Nov 2-4, 2007
  • Elephant Manager’s Association Annual Workshop, Cincinnati, OH, Oct 14-16, 2007
  • Elephant Manager’s Association Annual Workshop, Albuquerque, NM, Oct 15-18, 2006
  • Portland State University: Animal Behavior BI412/512, Portland, OR, 2006, 2007
  • Elephant Manager’s Association Annual Workshop, Portland, OR, Oct 5-9, 2005

Social managent of a male Asian elephant calf and associated hormone monitoring

  • Portland State University: Animal Behavior BI412/512, Portland, OR, Dec 9, 2014
  • Reed College: Animal Behavior, Portland, OR, October 2014
  • Elephant Manager’s Association Annual Workshop, Santa Barbara, CA, Nov 5-8, 2012 

Conducting zoo research (animal behavior methods, zoo research considerations)

  • Portland State University: Animal Behavior BI412/512, Portland, OR (multiple years)
  • Portland Community College: Conservation Biology in Biology and Management of Zoo Animals (BAMZA) program, March 4, 2014

Special topics on conservation isssues:

  • Domesticated elephants of Thailand: A magnificent unemployment problem
  • Portland State University Biology Seminar, Portland, OR, April 23, 2009
  • Sea Lion Research, Conservation & Controversy
  • Portland Community College: Conservation Biology in Biology and Management of Zoo Animals (BAMZA) program, March 5, 2015
  • Oregon Zoo, Conservation Brown Bag, Portland, OR, Nov 16, 2007